Panthers DE Hardy signs tender offer

Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl defensive end
Greg Hardy formally signed his franchise tender offer on Tuesday, ensuring the
standout pass rusher will remain with the team for the upcoming 2014 season.

The Panthers designated Hardy, whose 15 sacks in 2013 tied a team record and
ranked third in the NFL, as their franchise player on Friday. The defending
NFC South champions have until July 15 to negotiate with the four-year pro on
a long-term contract, or else Hardy will play out the upcoming season on the
franchise salary.

According to NFL.com, the franchise tag for defensive ends in 2014 is
projected to be around $13 million.

If Hardy had refused to sign the tender, he would have been eligible to
entertain offers from other teams, which the Panthers had the right to match
or receive two first-round picks as compensation.

After netting just seven sacks over his first two seasons, Hardy racked up 11
along with 61 tackles during a breakthrough 2012 campaign. The 25-year-old was
even more productive this past year in helping Carolina record a league-best
60 sacks en route to a surprise 12-4 season.

A sixth-round steal by the Panthers in the 2010 draft, Hardy twice earned NFC
Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2013. He and fellow end Charles Johnson
are the only set of teammates to produce 10 or more sacks in each of the last
two seasons, having combined for 49 1/2 over that span.